Doctor says Wright's psychotic issues ‘not adding up'

Published: Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 8:53 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 8:53 p.m.

A psychiatrist testified Saturday that a Thibodaux man accused of decapitating his son is competent to stand trial because it's not clear he's psychotic.

“I'm still looking at what's going on, and something's not adding up,” Dr. Mark Wilson said of his own mindset while writing a report months before Wright was released last year from the state mental hospital in Jackson and returned to the Lafourche Parish jail. “Everyone thinks he's incompetent when they first see him ... I had nothing I could really hang my hat on that would say he's psychotic.”

Saturday was the fifth day of a hearing to determine Jeremiah Wright's competency to stand trial on the first-degree murder charge involving his son, 7-year-old Jori Lirette, in the summer of 2011.

Wilson was the last psychiatrist the prosecution planned to call for the hearing, which will continue Monday.

The psychiatrist headed the team that ultimately decided in the summer of 2012 that Wright was competent after observing, testing and interviewing him for nine months at the hospital.

The defense grilled Wilson on the stand from 9 a.m. through mid-afternoon.

Defense attorney Cecelia Bonin projected multiple reports on the courtroom wall that Wilson had written about Wright throughout his stay in the hospital and questioned the psychiatrist about issues of competence and psychosis.

Wilson said the tests he gave “couldn't show to me one way or another if he was psychotic.” But he eventually concluded Wright understood the charges against him and could assist his attorneys — the criteria required to be fit to stand trial.

Bonin took issue with several statements Wright made to doctors that he was competent and wanted to go back to the jail. Bonin argued the statements suggest Wright was incompetent.

What sane person would want to be shackled in jail rather than be at the hospital “where he runs free about the room, can go outside to recreation, and can play with games?” Bonin asked.

Wilson did not give a clear answer, though he stressed that Wright was not consistently adamant about this idea. Wright only thought he would only be at the mental hospital for about a week, Wilson said.

Judge John LeBlanc, who is presiding over the hearing, declared Wright not fit to stand trial in October 2011. This hearing is to address whether he may now be ready to have proceedings continue. If so, and he's found guilty of first-degree murder, he could face the death penalty.

Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski@dailycomet.com.

<p>A psychiatrist testified Saturday that a Thibodaux man accused of decapitating his son is competent to stand trial because it's not clear he's psychotic.</p><p>“I'm still looking at what's going on, and something's not adding up,” Dr. Mark Wilson said of his own mindset while writing a report months before Wright was released last year from the state mental hospital in Jackson and returned to the Lafourche Parish jail. “Everyone thinks he's incompetent when they first see him ... I had nothing I could really hang my hat on that would say he's psychotic.”</p><p>Saturday was the fifth day of a hearing to determine Jeremiah Wright's competency to stand trial on the first-degree murder charge involving his son, 7-year-old Jori Lirette, in the summer of 2011.</p><p>Wilson was the last psychiatrist the prosecution planned to call for the hearing, which will continue Monday.</p><p>The psychiatrist headed the team that ultimately decided in the summer of 2012 that Wright was competent after observing, testing and interviewing him for nine months at the hospital. </p><p>The defense grilled Wilson on the stand from 9 a.m. through mid-afternoon.</p><p>Defense attorney Cecelia Bonin projected multiple reports on the courtroom wall that Wilson had written about Wright throughout his stay in the hospital and questioned the psychiatrist about issues of competence and psychosis.</p><p>Wilson said the tests he gave “couldn't show to me one way or another if he was psychotic.” But he eventually concluded Wright understood the charges against him and could assist his attorneys — the criteria required to be fit to stand trial.</p><p>Bonin took issue with several statements Wright made to doctors that he was competent and wanted to go back to the jail. Bonin argued the statements suggest Wright was incompetent.</p><p>What sane person would want to be shackled in jail rather than be at the hospital “where he runs free about the room, can go outside to recreation, and can play with games?” Bonin asked.</p><p>Wilson did not give a clear answer, though he stressed that Wright was not consistently adamant about this idea. Wright only thought he would only be at the mental hospital for about a week, Wilson said.</p><p>“It sounds crazy, but he actually likes Lafourche Parish better than the hospital,” Wilson said.</p><p>Judge John LeBlanc, who is presiding over the hearing, declared Wright not fit to stand trial in October 2011. This hearing is to address whether he may now be ready to have proceedings continue. If so, and he's found guilty of first-degree murder, he could face the death penalty. </p><p>Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski@dailycomet.com.</p>